Fishplate



April 1 1924. 1,489,064

s. M. CASTERLINE F1 SHPLATE Filed July 18. 1923 Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

ANITED STATES STANLEY M. GASTEBLINE, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FISHPLATE.

Application filed July 18,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY M. CAsTER- LINE, a citizen of the United States, and re siding at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F'ishplates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for a fish plate for use in forming rail joints.

The invention has for its object to provide a fish plate which is particularly adapted for use on light tracks, such as those used in mines and in other operations where light or temporary trackage is used, which plate may be easily applied to the rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boltless fish plate which will effectually join the rails and prevent relative movement of the rails and the cross tie atthe joint.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a fish plate embodying my invention applied to a rail joint and cross tie, the rail clamping means on the tie not being shown.

Fig. 2 is a transverse view through a rail, showing an end view of the fish plate applied thereto, and showing a cross tie of common construction.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the use of the fish plate in connection with a cross tie of the type shown in Patent No. 1,457,704, issued June 5, 1923 to Kenny and Casterline and owned by me.

In the great majority of mines, metal cross ties are used in connection with the rails. While there are, several difierent types of cross ties, they are generally similar in that they are in the form of an inverted channel, and are generally uniform in size.

In the drawings, A designates the cross tie, which is of any suitable kind, B and C are the two abutting rail ends, and D is the fish plate embodying my invention, and which is formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

The fish plate I) has a vertical part 5 adapted to bear against the web of the rails, as shown in Fig. 1, and at each of its upper corners is a laterally projecting lug 6 formed integrally with part 5, and formed by cutting the metal and bending the lugs no bolts and nuts are required.

1923. Serial No. 652,305.

over. These lugs are so positioned that,

when applied to abutting rail ends, they project into and through the bolt holes 7 normally provided in the rails. 7

At the bottom of the vertical part 5 is-a laterally extending base or flange 8 which slopes downwardly so as to conform to the slope of the base flange of the rails. Ex-

tending downwardly from the, outer edge a cleat 10 on the tie for engaging the inner base flange of the rail while some kind of clamping means is provided for use on the opposite side of the rail. As shown in Fig. 2, this clamping means may include a removable wedge block 11 held between the rail and an abutment 12; or the clamping means may include a hinged strap 13, as shown in Fig. 3 and as described in my above mentioned patent.

In either event, when the fish plate has been applied to the joint and tie in the man ner indicated, the clamping means is fixed in the usual way and the joint is then completed. No special tools are necessary, and The plate can be very cheaply made.

When in use, they not only tie the rail ends together, but they also hold the ties against displacement, so that the tie cannot.

be kicked or knocked from under the joint by animals or persons walking in the mine, or by other knocks and jars to which such equipment is subject.

The invention is obviously not confined to use with any particular type of cross tie, the two forms shown being merely illustrative of the manner in which the fish plate is used.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fish plate comprising a body having a vertical part and a horizontally extending base part, said body having integral laterally extending lugs struck outwardly from the vertical part of the body for engaging bolt holes in rails, and integral spaced apart vertical lugs turned down from the edge of the laterally extending part for engagement with a rail tie.

2. A fish plate comprising an integral body having a Vertical part and a horizontally extending base part, turned over corners at the top of the vertical part provid ing laterally projecting rail engaging lugs, and turned down lugs integral with the horizontally extending base.

.3. The combination with abutting rail ends having transverse bolt holes therethrongh, of-a cross tie, and a fish plate for holding the rail endsztogether and maintaining the tie in proper position, said fish plate having a vertical part and a horizontally extending base part, laterally extending integral lugs on the vertical part projecting into the bolt holes of the rails; and

plate for holding the fish plate and rails' in position.

4. The combinatlon with abutting rail ends having bolt holes therethrough of a cross tie, and a fish plate, said fish plate having a vertical part and a horizontally extending base part, and depending spaced apart lugs on the base part torengagelnent with opposite sides of the cross tie, and releasable rail clamping means on the cross tie bearing against the fish plate for secur ing the fish plate and rails in position.

In testimony whereof I ail ix my signature.

STANLEY M. GASTERLINE. 

